The Companies Make it Happen!

By: Susan Withrow, United Way Campaign Manager

There are so many reasons why we at United Way love all of the
communities in Southwest Michigan.  We have beautiful coastlines in St.
Joseph and Benton Harbor.  We have this tremendous early education
system in Niles. We have international culture in Berrien Springs...and
don't forget we have all the diverse and interesting businesses from the
southern-most tip of our corner of Michigan to the farthest east in
Jones and Marcellus.  These businesses support our local economy,
provide jobs to the folks in our communities and a great many of them
support the efforts of United Way.

It is the commitment that these companies make that help keep the heart
of United Way beating day to day.  They allow us to come in and educate their
employees on the programs and services that we provide.  They take time
out of their busy work days to have special events in order to raise
funds and awareness for the work that we do...and they make it fun too!

Just this afternoon I was invited to attend the company picnic of
Flaktwoods in Niles.  They turned their annual summer party into a
fundraiser for United Way.  When I arrived, they had arranged to have a
dunk tank on site and the President of Flaktwoods, Ric Palowski came out
wearing a crazy costume and encouraged all of his employees to buy balls
to throw and try to dunk him.  It was terrific and he was such a good
sport. They ended up raising over $1,300. When I thanked him, he shook
his head and said, "We are a leading company in the community, so we
should also be leading in helping the community. This is one way that we
can."  I could not have said it better myself.

Kudos to all the companies that support United Way!  You make it fun and
you make it happen!